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Library marks 50th anniversary of King's famed letter from jail

Laurie Bonnici, assistant professor of library and information studies at the University of Alabama, reads the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from a Birmingham jail at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on Tuesday. The library is celebrating the 50th anniversary of King's letter and its impact on society.

Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Jamon SmithStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 11:46 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Sitting in a tiny cell in the Birmingham jail on April 16, 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. penned a letter that became a defining piece of literature in the civil rights movement.

In celebration of the letter's 50th anniversary Tuesday, the Tuscaloosa Public Library held two public readings of the 16-page letter at its main and Weaver Bolden branches. The letter was read, page-by-page, by people of different ages, races and backgrounds.

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” said one of the volunteers who read King's letter aloud. “Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was ‘well timed' in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation.

“For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!' It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait' has almost always meant ‘Never.' We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.' ”

King wrote the letter in response to a statement that eight white clergymen made in a local newspaper criticizing King's methods of nonviolent demonstrating and protests. The clergymen stated that the fight for social injustice should be fought in the courtrooms and not on the streets.

King disputed their opinion, saying they had a legal right to publicly demonstrate and that public demonstrations must take place because “The Negro has many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them.

“So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides and try to understand why he must do so,” he wrote. “If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history.”

Mary Elizabeth Harper, executive director of the Tuscaloosa Public Library, said the library chose to celebrate the anniversary of King's letter because his words remind everyone that people need to treat each other with respect.

“It's been 50 years, but in the grand scheme of things, that's very little time,” Harper said. “It's important to know that if you don't remember the past, you're condemned to repeat it. There are lessons for us all in this letter.

“The crafting of the letter was excellent, but the content went beyond that. It was easy to read because it was so well written, but it was hard to read as well because of what it said. He put hard truths into words that resonated with many people.”

Harper said King's letter helped people understand that the racial division couldn't be healed unless it was faced and dealt with. She said racial tolerance has improved in the 50 years since King's letter, but there are still many areas of injustice in the country regarding race, gender, sexual orientation and religion.

“Yes, we do indeed have a ways to go,” she said. “We've probably come further because of people like Dr. King and that 6-year-old girl who sat here today and read the entire letter (to herself). She gives me hope.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Sitting in a tiny cell in the Birmingham jail on April 16, 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. penned a letter that became a defining piece of literature in the civil rights movement.</p><p>In celebration of the letter's 50th anniversary Tuesday, the Tuscaloosa Public Library held two public readings of the 16-page letter at its main and Weaver Bolden branches. The letter was read, page-by-page, by people of different ages, races and backgrounds.</p><p>“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” said one of the volunteers who read King's letter aloud. “Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was 'well timed' in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation.</p><p>“For years now I have heard the word 'Wait!' It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This 'Wait' has almost always meant 'Never.' We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that 'justice too long delayed is justice denied.' ”</p><p>King wrote the letter in response to a statement that eight white clergymen made in a local newspaper criticizing King's methods of nonviolent demonstrating and protests. The clergymen stated that the fight for social injustice should be fought in the courtrooms and not on the streets.</p><p>King disputed their opinion, saying they had a legal right to publicly demonstrate and that public demonstrations must take place because “The Negro has many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them.</p><p>“So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides and try to understand why he must do so,” he wrote. “If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history.”</p><p>Mary Elizabeth Harper, executive director of the Tuscaloosa Public Library, said the library chose to celebrate the anniversary of King's letter because his words remind everyone that people need to treat each other with respect.</p><p>“It's been 50 years, but in the grand scheme of things, that's very little time,” Harper said. “It's important to know that if you don't remember the past, you're condemned to repeat it. There are lessons for us all in this letter.</p><p>“The crafting of the letter was excellent, but the content went beyond that. It was easy to read because it was so well written, but it was hard to read as well because of what it said. He put hard truths into words that resonated with many people.”</p><p>Harper said King's letter helped people understand that the racial division couldn't be healed unless it was faced and dealt with. She said racial tolerance has improved in the 50 years since King's letter, but there are still many areas of injustice in the country regarding race, gender, sexual orientation and religion.</p><p>“Yes, we do indeed have a ways to go,” she said. “We've probably come further because of people like Dr. King and that 6-year-old girl who sat here today and read the entire letter (to herself). She gives me hope.”</p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>